View previous stories
	UN Working Group on human rights and transnational corporations presents annual report by Child Rights International Network & agencies   The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights held an interactive discussion with governments, NGOs and UN Agencies during the 20th session of the Human Rights Council.   On 21 June, the Working Group on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises presented its annual report to the Human Rights Council and held a discussion with States, UN agencies and NGOs.   Margaret Jungk, Chairperson/Rapporteur of the Working Group, presented her report and said last year the Human Rights Council had taken the historic decision to unanimously endorse the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, establishing for the first time an authoritative global standard to address the negative impacts business activities could have on human rights.   Ms Jungk said what was now required was for awareness of the Guiding Principles to be raised and for States and business enterprises to implement them.   Dialogue with civil society   Since its establishment, she said the Working Group had had on-going engagement with stakeholders during and in between sessions. The Group would encourage efforts to raise the capacity of the State, business and civil society to implement the Guiding Principles, by encouraging training and other capacity-building activities as well as systematic dialogue and engagement between all stakeholders.   She also said the Working Group had been exploring, with Member States, the possibilities for country visits, so that it could ground its work in real-life complexities on the ground and speak directly and make constructive recommendations.   * Visit the link below for more details. See also Joint Oral Statement to UN Working Group on Human RIghts & Business by ESCR Net, ICJ & FIDH at Human Rights Council Session.   http://www.escr-net.org/news/news_show.htm?doc_id=1635654 Visit the related web page
	Anti-poverty group pushes for G8 food deal by ONE International   Apr 2012   Leaders of the world"s industrial powers must commit to boost agriculture investments in poor countries and end hunger and malnutrition among the poor when they meet outside Washington in May, a One International says.   In a new report the ONE Campaign said increased donor support for agricultural investment plans in 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Central America would lift 50 million people out of extreme poverty.   Leaders from the wealthy Group of Eight - the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia - meet near Washington on May 18-19 where global food security is one of the main development issues to be discussed.   The global food price crisis in 2008, which led to increased hunger, malnutrition and social unrest, highlighted the years of under investment in agriculture in developing countries. Food prices have remained high and volatile since then, raising the food bills of the world"s poor countries.   ONE said it would launch its "Thrive" campaign in France, Germany, Britain and the United States to highlight the need to tackle the causes of hunger.   "ONE"s analysis shows that sustained investment in small-scale farming, together with a focus on ensuring children have enough nourishing food to eat, will have a huge impact on tens of millions of people around the world living in extreme poverty," said Ben Leo, global policy director at ONE.   Leo said ONE had identified 30 poor countries, home to about 26 percent of the 1.4 billion extreme poor, which have globally backed agricultural investment plans that need donor support.   Among the countries are Bangladesh, Benin, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Uganda, Tajikistan and Ethiopia.   Leo, said analysis of the countries investment plans and existing donor-funded farming programs left a financing gap of about $27 billion through to 2015.   The money could be raised through a combination of contributions from donors, governments, the private sector and in some cases non-profit organizations, the ONE report said.   ONE called on the G8 summit to agree on a new compact on food security and nutrition. The new deal should build on a G8 agreement in L"Aquila, Italy, in 2009 to mobilize $20 billion over three years to increase agriculture investments in poor countries, ONE said. The report also called on G8 nations to adopt measures to tackle food price volatility. Visit the related web page
	View more stories